Device for locking front cover of bank note container box for use in automatic money depositing and disbursing machine

Abstract

A device for locking a front cover attached to a bank note container box to cover the opening of the box. The device securely locks the front cover in the closed condition when the box is removed from the automatic money depositing and disbursing machine, and releases the front cover automatically when the box is held in position within the machine. The device comprises, in combination, an opening and closing cam and an unlock cam mounted to the machine body, and a lock member and a first unlock lever mounted to the side plate of the box. When the box initially inserted in the machine body is moved to be pulled out, the unlock lever is raised by the unlock cam so that the lock member releases the front cover from the locked condition in which it is locked in the open position. Thereafter the front cover is slowly closed by the action of the opening and closing cam. Then the lock member is moved by the action of a biasing spring to the position for locking the front cover. In a further preferred embodiment, double lock means are provided for safe carriage of the box by hand. The double lock means comprises a further lock lever and an unlock member operatively associated with said first unlock lever.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatic money depositing and disbursing machine wherein bank notes are deposited therein and disbursed therefrom, which comprises: a machine body,   a stacker support frame slidably movable in a horizontal direction for insertion into and withdrawal from the machine body,   at least one box supportable on the stacker support frame,   a front cover on said box and openably mounted to permit bank notes to be stacked in and pulled out of the box through the opened front cover,   cam follower means attached to the front cover at the sides thereof,   cam means attached to the machine body for guiding the cam follower means of the front cover to open and close the front cover,   front cover locking means provided within the box for locking the front cover to prevent the front cover from being opened,   an unlock lever slidably mounted within the box to be engageable with the front cover locking means, and   an unlock cam mounted on the machine body for engaging with the unlock lever to actuate the front cover locking means through the unlock lever and thereby releasing the locking of the front cover while the cam means guides the cam follower means.   
     
     
       2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the cam follower means includes at least one roller and the cam means includes at least one groove to receive and guide the roller. 
     
     
       3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the front cover locking means includes a plate rotatable together with the front cover and means for biasing the plate to prevent the plate from moving. 
     
     
       4. A machine according to claim 3, further comprising a second unlock lever mounted within the box for engaging with the first unlock lever to lock the first unlock lever, and an unlock member mounted on the stacker support frame for actuating the second unlock lever to unlock the first unlock lever when the box is supported on the stacker support frame.